GB2069342A

GB2069342A - Carbon fiber reinforced racket

Info

Publication number: GB2069342A
Application number: GB8005012A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-02-14
Filing date: 1980-02-14
Publication date: 1981-08-26
Also published as: SG26584G; GB2069342B; MY8500560A; HK49185A

Abstract

A reinforced racket (20) has a plurality of carbon fiber sheets (27) adhered to both faces of a frame of a conventional racket. Fibers in each of the sheets are arranged at predetermined angles to the central line of the frame thereof so as to enhance the strength and flexibility of the racket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Carbon fiber reinforced racket The present invention relates to a novel carbon fiber reinforced racket for various games, such as tennis, squash, badminton, and the like. According to this invention, a carbon fiber reinforced racket is provided comprising a plurality of carbon fiber sheets adhered to both faces of a frame of the conventional racket whether made of wood, metal, glass reinforced plastic materials or fiber reinforced plastic materials, in which fibers of each said carbon fiber sheet are arranged at special angles to the central line of the frame thereof.

Recently, the conventional racket made of wood has been discarded because such rackets are subject to certain disadvantages from the standpoint of weight, strength, balance, density, mechanical properties, etc. Many experts in this art have produced rackets wherein the frame is constructed of alloy. A racket of such a material possesses a very high degree of strength, but unfortunately the user thereof tends to get hurt in the elbow by the shock and vibration caused especially by his smashing.

The use of glass fiber reinforced plastic or graphite material has become widespread during these days. Yet in spite of many desirable qualities of such rackets, the art has been unable to solve the problems, such as rigidity of the frame, so as to develop a satisfactory racket frame.

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown a thin film of carbon 10 shaped to produce the conventional racket. After the frame is removed therefrom, a lot of carbon fibers 11 remain unused. As the fibers thereof are at right angle to the racket frame and the lateral fibers thereof are considerable short, the conventional carbon fiber racket frame does not provide sufficient resistance to shock and vibration.

Accordingly, a main object of this invention is to provide a novel carbon fiber reinforced racket to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional rackets.

A further object of the present invention is to reinforce the conventional racket frame by adhering thereto a plurality of carbon fiber sheets.

The present invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing how the conventional carbon fiber racket frame is shaped; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the novel carbon fiber reinforced racket of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is indicated a reinforced carbon fiber racket 20 according to the present invention comprising strings 21, a grip 22 and a racket frame 25. The reinforced racket appears to be similar to the conventional racket in outer appearance, but the racket frame 25 thereof includes a core 26 to its upper and lower sides there are adhered by adhesive such as epoxy resin a plurality of carbon fiber reinforcing sheets 27 with fibers arranged at special angles to the core 26. It is to be noted that the racket frame may be made of wood, alloy or other carbon fiber plastic materials.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 3. Each said reinforcing sheet 27 with thickness of 0.6-1 mm has its fibers 28 oriented at between +150 to +450 and --1 50 to 450 to the central line 35 of the core 26. The reinforcing sheets 27 will obtain the racket 20 high strength especially when the latter is being used to smash.

Referring further to Fig. 4, a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The fibers 29 of each reinforcing sheets 27 are arranged parallel to the central line 35 of the core 26 and cross each other at 40 thereby to increase resistance to shock or vibration.

It will be understood by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are simply for explanation purpose and many variations will be made possible according to the principle of the present invention. The scope of the present invention will be described in the appended

claims.

CLAIMS 1. A carbon fiber reinforced racket comprising strings, a grip, and a conventional racket frame with its two faces adhered by a plurality of carbon fiber reinforcing sheets having fibers thereof arranged at between +150 to +450 and --150 to --450 to the central line of said frame.

2. A carbon fiber reinforced racket comprising strings, a grip, and a conventional racket frame with its two faces adhered by a plurality of carbon fiber reinforcing sheets having fibers thereof arranged parallel to the central line of said frame.

3. A carbon fiber reinforced racket substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Carbon fiber reinforced racket The present invention relates to a novel carbon fiber reinforced racket for various games, such as tennis, squash, badminton, and the like. According to this invention, a carbon fiber reinforced racket is provided comprising a plurality of carbon fiber sheets adhered to both faces of a frame of the conventional racket whether made of wood, metal, glass reinforced plastic materials or fiber reinforced plastic materials, in which fibers of each said carbon fiber sheet are arranged at special angles to the central line of the frame thereof. Recently, the conventional racket made of wood has been discarded because such rackets are subject to certain disadvantages from the standpoint of weight, strength, balance, density, mechanical properties, etc. Many experts in this art have produced rackets wherein the frame is constructed of alloy. A racket of such a material possesses a very high degree of strength, but unfortunately the user thereof tends to get hurt in the elbow by the shock and vibration caused especially by his smashing. The use of glass fiber reinforced plastic or graphite material has become widespread during these days. Yet in spite of many desirable qualities of such rackets, the art has been unable to solve the problems, such as rigidity of the frame, so as to develop a satisfactory racket frame. Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown a thin film of carbon 10 shaped to produce the conventional racket. After the frame is removed therefrom, a lot of carbon fibers 11 remain unused. As the fibers thereof are at right angle to the racket frame and the lateral fibers thereof are considerable short, the conventional carbon fiber racket frame does not provide sufficient resistance to shock and vibration. Accordingly, a main object of this invention is to provide a novel carbon fiber reinforced racket to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional rackets. A further object of the present invention is to reinforce the conventional racket frame by adhering thereto a plurality of carbon fiber sheets. The present invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing how the conventional carbon fiber racket frame is shaped; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the novel carbon fiber reinforced racket of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2, there is indicated a reinforced carbon fiber racket 20 according to the present invention comprising strings 21, a grip 22 and a racket frame 25. The reinforced racket appears to be similar to the conventional racket in outer appearance, but the racket frame 25 thereof includes a core 26 to its upper and lower sides there are adhered by adhesive such as epoxy resin a plurality of carbon fiber reinforcing sheets 27 with fibers arranged at special angles to the core 26. It is to be noted that the racket frame may be made of wood, alloy or other carbon fiber plastic materials. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 3. Each said reinforcing sheet 27 with thickness of 0.6-1 mm has its fibers 28 oriented at between +150 to +450 and --1 50 to 450 to the central line 35 of the core 26. The reinforcing sheets 27 will obtain the racket 20 high strength especially when the latter is being used to smash. Referring further to Fig. 4, a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fibers 29 of each reinforcing sheets 27 are arranged parallel to the central line 35 of the core 26 and cross each other at 40 thereby to increase resistance to shock or vibration. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are simply for explanation purpose and many variations will be made possible according to the principle of the present invention. The scope of the present invention will be described in the appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A carbon fiber reinforced racket comprising strings, a grip, and a conventional racket frame with its two faces adhered by a plurality of carbon fiber reinforcing sheets having fibers thereof arranged at between +150 to +450 and --150 to --450 to the central line of said frame.

3. A carbon fiber reinforced racket substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and

4.